Te Akau Matamata Midweek Preview

Te Akau Racing has nine horses entered on Wednesday 5 June at Matamata. 

Matamata:  

Weather: fine, track: Heavy8, rail: true. No rain forecast. 

12:32 p.m. R2 4 Moon Rocket (3 g Merchant Navy – Moon Lover) – Tayla Melvin (a4); he finished strongly for a close second in a trial on 30 May at Waipa, also with Melvin aboard, and resumes in the $17,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. His dam won 10 times to 1200 metres in Australia and he has weight relief to 53.5kg with the apprentice engaged. He has shown the ability to act in a fresh state, and seems capable of a bold first-up effort - one of two in the event for the stable. Fixed odds: $5.50 & $2.15. 

12:32 p.m. R2 8 Not Straight Laced (3 f Turn Me Loose – Clos De Tart) – Niranjan Parmar (a1); she finished strongly out of the pack for third when resuming in the Pearl Series Maiden 1300 metres on 22 May at Taupo, with Parmar also aboard, and contests the $17,000 Maiden 3YO 1200 metres. She brings a good record on her home course to the equation, and rates a top three chance from barrier three. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.00. 

1:07 p.m. R3 1 Malmaison (3 g Darci Brahma – Altai Rose) – Opie Bosson; he did very well off a three wide trip for a close second when resuming in the Maiden 1215 metres on 11 May at Rotorua, and contests the $17,000 Maiden 1200 metres. He has been runner-up in three of four starts, and looks well placed to break through here. Fixed odds: $3.00 & $1.50. 

1:42 p.m. R4 1 Bella Voce (3 f Fastnet Rock – Keep On Singing) – Opie Bosson; she came out of midfield with a strong finish for second when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres here on 8 May, and contests the $17,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Maiden Fillies & Mares 1200 metres (eligible $26,000 bonuses). He possesses a good record and looks poised to have an impact in this field. Fixed odds: $2.50 & $1.35. 

2:54 p.m. R6 1 Akenehi (3 f Fastnet Rock – Igraine) – Opie Bosson; she closed from back in the field for fourth when resuming in the Maiden 3YO 1200 metres here on 8 May, and contests the $17,000 Maiden Fillies & Mares 1400 metres. Placed in three of four starts during her first campaign, she is a promising individual. Her dam impressed winning on soft ground, and this well-bred filly has top three credentials despite her wide draw (10). Fixed odds: $1.75 & $1.10. 

3:29 p.m. R7 2 Merlotti (4 g Burgundy – Ruppertsberg) – Warren Kennedy; he resumed with victory in the Rating 60 1200 metres here on 19 April at Matamata, before a fairly quiet run in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 11 May at Rotorua. One of three stablemates contesting the $17,000 Rating 65 1400 metres, he is a dual winner and is capable of improvement from barrier three. Fixed odds: $9.50 & $3.20.

3:29 p.m. R7 7 Baronet (4 g Contributer – Alpha Dame) – Tayla Melvin (a4); he raced handily and fought hard for a close third in the Rating 60 1400 metres on 25 May at Pukekohe, with Melvin also then aboard, and contests the $17,000 Rating 65 1400 metres. With very good all-round stats, and the weight relief to 53.5kg, he rates a top three chance. Fixed odds: $5.00 & $2.10. 

3:29 p.m. R7 9 Polly Plum (5 m Xtravagant – Herstory) – Opie Bosson; the third of stable trio contesting this 1400m event, she never fired on the poly track last Wednesday at Cambridge. However she did well for fourth the start prior in the Rating 65 1215 metres on 11 May at Rotorua. She likes this track, is also a dual course/distance winner on heavy footing, and is presented with the opportunity to bounce back from barrier four. Fixed odds: $6.00 & $2.35.

4:04 p.m. R8 10 The Sky Above (3 f American Pharoah – Blue Blue Sky) – Warren Kennedy; she sustained an eye-catching finish from midfield with the fastest last 600m (36.6) for third in the Pearl Series Maiden 1400 metres here on 8 May at Matamata, and closed strongly for second in the Maiden 3YO 1750 metres on 22 May at Taupo. On her recent prformances, and work, she is a top three contender in the $17,000 Maiden 1600 metres. Fixed odds: $3.10 & $1.50.